Radio

EVERGREEN MEDIA CORP. said Monday it had agreed to buy a dozen radio stations in five markets including Chicago, Philadelphia and Boston from Pyramid Communications Inc. for $306.5 million. The deal would expand Evergreen's station lineup by more than a third to 34 overall, making the Irving, Texas-based company one of the nation's biggest radio station group owners. Pyramid's stations in Boston and Philadelphia would give Evergreen representation in all 10 of the nation's top radio markets.

Combat Boots to Cowboy Boots has groups operating in various places across the country, helping those in local communities. The program in Ocklawaha costs $500 for each veteran, but the vets aren't asked to pay. Rather, the group seeks donations to cover the cost. Here's a sample of the folks they help: Kea McDow, 24, was in the Army for five years in active duty and has been in the National Guard for almost a year. She is military police. "At the time, it was the closest a female could get in combat, " McDow said.

The latest radio ratings are out. And, at first blush, it looks like most of the recent shake-ups and format changes actually helped the stations -- especially stations that replaced talk with music. That news may be depressing to local hosts. But it's no surprise to listeners who have abandoned basic radio for their iPods and even satellite radio in recent years. Take WJRR, (101.1FM) for example. The station shook up things in January when it suddenly jettisoned market vets Pat Lynch and Taco Bob from their spot in the mornings.

If you're a Radio Disney fan who still listens to the network's programming the old-fashioned way ­­ - you know, on the radio - you might want to tune out this latest news. Then again, there are so few Radio Disney listeners using AM and FM radio to tune in to the stations that this news might not affect too many of you. Disney announced Wednesday that it is selling almost all of its 24 radio stations across the United States. The sale will take place Sept. 26 and will mean more than 180 positions will be eliminated.

A national radio host is teaming up with locals for a forum Thursday to promote youth mentoring. The forum is part of radio personality Michael Baisden's One Million Mentors tour, a seven-month campaign that aims to enlist mentors for black youth and raise one million dollars for community causes. It will take place 7 p.m. at the Orlando Downtown Recreation Complex, 649 W. Livingston Street The event is sponsored by radio station STAR 94.5 (WCFB), which airs The Michael Baisden show 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The session will include Orlando Police Chief Val Demings, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings and other community leaders.

Melbourne-based Harris Corp. said Wednesday it has booked a $6 million order to build advanced military radio equipment for an unidentified African nation. Terms call for Harris to supply Falcon III multiband networking radios, remote controls and other tactical communications equipment to the African country, which asked its name not be disclosed. It is Harris' latest foreign military sale in the African continent, as well as the latest in a series of deals for the Falcon radio-systems, which are widely deployed by the U.S. military in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Three commercial fishermen were rescued and their boat was saved Tuesday night after they made a radio transmission for help. The crew aboard the 44-foot Little Joe called for help over VHF Channel 16 at about 9 p.m., reporting there was a crack in the boat's raw-water system that takes in ocean water to cool the engines. U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Cindy Beckert said. Channel 16 is an international distress frequency. About 1,000 gallons of water flooded the boat's engine room, she said.

Betty Hawthorne had a resume that was hard to match. As a young woman, she taught in public schools in Central Florida. When she wanted something new, she became a professional contest entrant, racking up a series of wins. And when that grew stale, she launched her third act: In her 40s, Hawthorne began giving psychic readings, nurturing a gift she felt she had since childhood. She ultimately became a minor celebrity appearing on Florida radio shows. "My mom's life was anything but ordinary," said her daughter Heather.

FOOD & Water Inc., a Vermont-based consumer lobbying group, is about to renew its campaign against food irradiation in Florida. Next week, radio stations will begin carrying 60-second spots - paid for by Food & Water - warning about the potential dangers of irradiated chicken. The nation's first food-irradiation plant, in the Polk County town of Mulberry, is zapping poultry to rid it of bacteria. Food & Water contends the process is risky. The group's first radio blast against irradiation ran briefly about two years ago. It was criticized by the state Agriculture Department and scientists as misleading.

TAVARES - If calamity strikes, Doug Rehman and other local ham-radio operators will be ready to jump in and help with critical communications. This weekend, Rehman and other Lake County amateur radio operators will take part in an event to practice for critical situations such as tornadoes, hurricanes or other natural or manmade disasters. About 70 members of the Lake Amateur Radio Association and the Lake County Amateur Radio Emergency Service will operate seven ham-radio stations from 2 p.m. today through 2 p.m. Sunday as part of the American Radio Relay League Annual Field Day at Lake Technical College's Institute of Public Safety, 1565 Lane Park Cutoff.

Whether teaching high-school math or traveling the world, Jacquelyn Hester approached life with an unquenchable thirst for learning. A descendant of Lake County's earliest settlers, Hester immersed herself in Leesburg's past but also blazed her own historic path: In 1942, Pan American World Airways hired her as the first female radio telegraph operator in commercial aviation history. Hester died on June 2. She was 90. "She was very mathematically oriented, so learning the radio codes was no problem for her," said Dixie Allen, a friend for more than 50 years.

"Live radio is not always interesting. " That observation, from one of the shock-jock stars of "Radio Free Fringe," pretty much covers the experience of watching this mess of a production. "Radio Free Fringe" features supposedly "live" broadcasts by radio personalities of shows that aired 30 years ago on Boston station WJKJ - "Rockin' the Talk. " It's a lineup that includes "The Other Side of the Bed" with Adam & Steve; "The Sports Ninjas" with Fenway & Durwoody; "The Hammer of Truth!"

I'm ticked off at how many more Ticked Off messages there are than Flip Side ones. It's a shame we so quickly want to vent our rage yet are so hesitant to praise a good deed. I'm ticked off at my immature vocabulary when I'm frustrated and bored. I'm ticked off with people who want the government to supply them with medical care, among other things. Government is not our big daddy! To the person ticked off that he/she is forced to go to another city to gamble at a casino: Move.

While making breakfast recently, I turned on the radio. The story: One year after the Newtown killings, still no answer as to 'Why.' I turn the radio off. Sitting down to eat my oatmeal, I picked up the newspaper and scan front-page stories: Ongoing water woes…the plight of the Florida black bear…more reflections on the Newtown killings… I put the front-page down and picked up the comics. I wanted to feel good. I wanted to laugh. Comics will do that - at least a few of them will.

The Leesburg-based Lake Amateur Radio Association will offer a two-day study course, which leads to the Federal Communications Commission amateur-radio operators license (extra-class license). The extra-class license is the highest class an amateur radio operator can obtain. It allows operators access to more powerful, higher frequencies to the full extent that the FCC laws permit. The course is open to amateur operators with a general-class license, who wish to upgrade. The class will meet from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 25 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 26, followed by FCC testing.

Christmas is without doubt a time of tradition. Families have their time-honored holiday meal, or a special star that absolutely must glitter atop the tree. For many, watching "It's a Wonderful Life" is as essential to their celebration as midnight Mass. Joe Landry's stage adaptation of the 1946 film is this year's holiday offering from Orlando Shakespeare Theater. The story is told by a group of actors presenting a radio drama in the '40s. Scripts in hand, actors read the familiar lines at microphones while a sound-effects man creates the illusion of ice cracking or people walking.